Senate Democrats Manuever Gun Control Amendments

Democrats in the state Senate on Wednesday unsuccessfully sought to attach gun control-related amendments to legislation, raising the issue once again following the shooting at a Florida high school that left 17 people dead.

The amendments, though voted down, come as Republicans in the state Senate have signaled support for possible gun control legislation, which could include making it harder for those deemed too dangerous to obtain a firearm and closing up loopholes in the prohibition against people convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence from keeping and obtaining guns.

Republicans successfully blocked the gun control amendments on procedural grounds, but the amendments were backed by the mainline and Indepednent Democratic Conference.

“I’m hoping we have enough colleagues to stand up for New Yorkers and their safety,” said Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Democrat from Yonkers.

Republicans on Tuesday emerged from a closed-door conference to not rule out new gun control measures as well as backing funding for school security upgrades, such as metal detectors and armed resource officers.

Democrats are unlikely to back more armed personnel at schools, but are open to bolstering security, potentially in the budget agreement due next month.

“I do envision it. I mean clearly after what was happening in some of the community centers there was a push to create funding for the retrofitting,” Stewart-Cousins said. “I think we have to look at our schools and I think everyone should be on the table and we need resources for schools.”

In a statement, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, a Long Island Republican, signaled support for security upgrades and while he did not explicitly rule out action on gun control, did not use the word “gun” or “firearm” in the statement.

“Our Senate Republican Majority is hard at work on a comprehensive school safety plan that will ensure the state provides the support necessary to strengthen school security and keep students safe,” he said. “We have had productive internal discussions this week on the concepts of a full legislative package, and expect to act as early as next week.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has made gun control a signature issue for him following the shooting at Connecticut elementary school, said he would back additional gun control efforts, but insisted the SAFE Act remained the best gun control law in the country.

“To the extent we can strengthen the SAFE Act, of course I would support those provisions,” he said in an unrelated conference call. “But we also know a state law cannot solve this problem because guns come over borders.”

Cuomo urged Democrats nationally to push harder on the issue, which earned a rebuke from U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a fellow New Yorker and Democrat.

“The national Democrats are seriously debating it,” he said, according to WAMC public radio. “For him to say we won’t do it is incorrect.”

I wonder if Andy knows evil exists and that criminals don’t follow the law????? What an ASSHAT!

Philtrum

I wonder if Jeff is aware that Japan (population 127M) had eight gun deaths in the most recent year. In America, thanks to the NRA we cannot even provide an accurate count–when will we have enough guns in America to make you feel safe from evil?